Matthew 27:38
Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text deliberately places Jesus between two robbers, not just to fulfill prophecy, but to powerfully illustrate that He, the sinless Son of God, was being treated as the worst offender. This stark juxtaposition highlights how He was reckoned with transgressors, not because of His own sin, but to bear the weight of ours.
As Jesus hangs on the cross, the Roman soldiers carry out his execution, a brutal act that fulfills ancient prophecies. Beside him, two convicted robbers are also crucified, placing Jesus, the innocent Son of God, in the midst of criminals. This public disgrace was intended by his enemies to diminish him, yet it powerfully illustrates his substitutionary death for sinners.
Jesus wasn't just crucified; he was placed in the worst possible company. Why would God allow this?
The gospel writers are crystal clear: Jesus was crucified between two notorious criminals, often described as 'robbers' or 'cutthroats'. This wasn't accidental.
A Deliberate Placement
Scholars suggest this placement was strategic. The Roman authorities, or perhaps the Jewish leaders, might have intended to further disgrace Jesus. By crucifying him alongside known felons, they aimed to paint him as the worst criminal of the three, a ringleader of the disreputable. This fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah 53:12: 'he was numbered with the transgressors.'
God's Purpose in the Shame
But this shameful association had a divine purpose. It wasn't just to insult Jesus, but to profoundly illustrate God's plan for salvation. Jesus, the innocent Son of God, stood in the place of sinners. His death among these lawbreakers wasn't a mistake; it was a powerful sign that he was there to bear the penalty for our sins, making us 'numbered among the saints' in God's eyes.
These weren't petty thieves. What does the nature of their crimes tell us about the world Jesus entered?
The Greek word used for these men is 'lestes' (λῃσταί), which implies more than simple theft. These were likely violent criminals – bandits, robbers, even murderers – men who lived outside the law and often violently opposed the governing powers.
A World of Violence and Rebellion
Their presence underscores the brutal reality of Roman occupation and the desperate times. These were not just outlaws; they represented a spectrum of societal rebellion and defiance.
The Spectrum of Humanity Crucified
Crucifying Jesus alongside such men presented a stark contrast. While the robbers faced justice for their violent lives, Jesus faced death for sins he never committed. This highlights the immense weight of sin that Jesus took upon himself – not just the sins of the 'religious' or the 'respectable,' but the sins of the most desperate and violent among us. It shows that no one is beyond the reach of his atoning sacrifice.
Understand the original words
lēstēs · Greek Noun
Individuals involved in violent robbery or insurrection; often associated with bandits or revolutionaries. Their presence highlights the shame and social rejection intended by the crucifixion.
stauroō · Greek Verb
A method of capital punishment involving being nailed or tied to a wooden cross; it was the ultimate symbol of Roman state power, humiliation, and suffering, and for the believer, it is the instrument of Christ’s atoning work.
The crucifixion of Jesus between two 'robbers' was a politically charged event. Roman authorities likely used such criminals, often associated with rebellion, to further denigrate Jesus and discourage sedition, fulfilling prophecies of being numbered among transgressors.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Crucifixion and Death
Jesus is condemned by Pontius Pilate and crucified outside Jerusalem, alongside two individuals identified as robbers or insurrectionists. This event marked the culmination of his earthly ministry and the core of Christian belief.
c. 26-36 AD
Pontius Pilate as Prefect
Pontius Pilate served as the Roman prefect (governor) of Judea during Jesus' crucifixion. His decision to condemn Jesus, despite potential reservations, reflects the Roman imperial authority and its interactions with local religious and political tensions.
c. 27-30 AD
Jewish Passover Festival
The crucifixion occurred during the Passover festival, a major Jewish pilgrimage feast. This timing heightened the public nature of the event and the Passover themes of sacrifice and liberation that resonate with Jesus' death.
c. 40s-60s AD
Early Christian Missionary Journeys
Following Jesus' resurrection and ascension, his followers, including the apostles, embarked on journeys to spread the Christian message. The Gospels, like Matthew's, were written during this period to record Jesus' life and teachings for new believers.
This prophecy directly foretells that the Suffering Servant would be 'numbered with the transgressors,' highlighting the prophetic fulfillment of Jesus being crucified alongside criminals.
Mark 15:27-28This parallel account in Mark explicitly quotes Isaiah 53:12 in relation to the crucifixion, reinforcing the theological significance of Jesus being placed among robbers.
Luke 23:32-33Luke's Gospel also records two others being led out with Jesus for execution, emphasizing the grim reality of crucifixion and the company Jesus kept in His suffering.
John 19:18John's Gospel specifies that Jesus was crucified between two others, one on each side, providing a precise spatial detail that frames the centrality of Jesus in this act of public shame.
henryMatthew 27:35-44: "And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots."
27:35-44 It was usual to put shame upon malefactors, by a writing to notify the crime for which they suffered. So they set up one over Christ's head. This they designed for his reproach, but God so overruled it, that even his accusation was to his honour. There were crucified wit…
clarkeMatthew 27:38: "Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left."
Two thieves - ΛῃϚαι, robbers, or cutthroats: men who had committed robbery and murder; for it does not appear that persons were crucified for robbery only. Thus was our Lord numbered (his name enrolled, placed as it were in the death warrant) with transgressors, according to the prophetic declaration, Isaiah 53:12 ; and the Jews placed him between these two, perhaps to intimate that…
The text deliberately places Jesus between two robbers, not just to fulfill prophecy, but to powerfully illustrate that He, the sinless Son of God, was being treated as the worst offender. This stark juxtaposition highlights how He was reckoned with transgressors, not because of His own sin, but to bear the weight of ours.
As Jesus hangs on the cross, the Roman soldiers carry out his execution, a brutal act that fulfills ancient prophecies. Beside him, two convicted robbers are also crucified, placing Jesus, the innocent Son of God, in the midst of criminals. This public disgrace was intended by his enemies to diminish him, yet it powerfully illustrates his substitutionary death for sinners.
As Jesus hangs on the cross, the Roman soldiers carry out his execution, a brutal act that fulfills ancient prophecies. Beside him, two convicted robbers are also crucified, placing Jesus, the innocent Son of God, in the midst of criminals. This public disgrace was intended by his enemies to diminish him, yet it powerfully illustrates his substitutionary death for sinners.
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c. 70 AD
Destruction of the Second Temple
The Roman destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple significantly altered the Jewish religious landscape. This event occurred decades after Jesus' crucifixion and influenced the early Christian movement's separation from Judaism.
"Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left." — The text deliberately places Jesus between two robbers, not just to fulfill prophecy, but to powerfully illustrate that He, the sinless Son of God, was being treated as the worst offender. This stark…
